Paris Fashion Week: Matte Nails Might Be Back...But in a Good Way

When matte nails became a thing a few seasons ago, I tried to get excited about them. But every time I painted on those flat shades, I felt a pang of disappointment. I hated the way the colors looked worn out the minute you painted them on and how they felt dry and chalky to the touch, which to me was the beauty equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. So when makeup artist Peter Philips told me they were using a matte topcoat backstage at Dries Van Noten in Paris, I have to admit, I got a bit nervous (cue nail-biting). "We're doing a nude nail with a velvet matte top coat to give a powdery finish to the nails," he said, calling over the lead manicurist, Annie, to show me the bottles—Chanel Le Vernis in Beige Naturale and Chanel Top Coat Velvet. "C'est jolie et magnifique!" Annie said of the pairing. When I saw it on a model, I had to agree the effect was pretty and magnificent. Not only did the model's nails look stronger and thicker, but because the matte topcoat didn't refract any light, they took on an impossibly clean quality: It's exactly what your fingertips would look like if you never did the dishes, texted, or dug around your purse for loose change. And the best part? Because the nude-colored base was sheer, it didn't look the least bit chalky. The next day, I was happy to see Annie using the same top coat again at Balmain, this time painting it over bare nails, and creating a very similar same effect. I've decided, whether or not I see this backstage again, I am definitely going to try this out, and I'm not waiting until spring—the minute Fashion Week's over I'm giving myself a manicure.